Benue State Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu says his only reason for running for the governorship of the state is to help provide services to the people and help in transforming the development status of the state.
Engr. Abounu, who also said he would make the youths the centrepiece and main drivers of his administration’s programmes spoke today at the inauguration of the Abounu Youth 2023 Network which was held at his campaign office in Makurdi.
The deputy governor expressed happiness at the direct involvement of the youths in the choice of who becomes governor of the state in 2023 and promised that if elected, the youths would constitute 70% of his administration.
He congratulated members of the Youth Council, who are drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state for choosing to be part of the Abounu 2023 Project.
He told them to walk with their heads tall, as he, their principal, was the most experienced, most competent and prepared for the task of taking over from Governor Samuel Ortom in 2023
Engr. Abounu explains that apart from his wide experience in the private and public sector, where he rose to the top of the ladder, his experience in the governance of the state, having served in three different administrations with distinction, places him in the best position to lead and provide services to the people.
Engr. Abounu, who said leadership is not about where you come from, but what you can do for the people, disclosed that stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue South Senatorial District have already endorsed him as their sole candidate and presented him to Governor Samuel Ortom.
He called on the youths, who he said he is anchoring his campaign on, to carry the message of the Abounu 2023 project to every nook and cranny of the state.
Swearing in the coordinators and members of the Youth Council, former Speaker, Plenipotentiary, Federal House of Representatives, and leader of the Committee of Tiv Friends for Abounu, Rt. Hon. Terngu Tsegba said the Abounu 2023 Project is predicated on competence, experience, integrity and ability to deliver on critical matters of state.
He disclosed that the scramble for positions is because of a lack of justice in the system, adding that Engr. Abounu is someone one can relate with based on competence and ability.
He stated that on the basis of qualification, Enr. Abounu is the most experienced, most competent and most well exposed to lead the state at the end of the tenure of Governor Samuel Ortom.
He charged the coordinators of the Network to go home and inaugurate the youth support group in all the wards of the local government areas, and to conscript new members for the group.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of the network, Hon. Dan Atayi called on the youths of Benue to allow equity, fairness and justice, and to support the candidacy of Engr. Benson Abounu, who is from Benue South Senatorial District.
He said the people of Benue South have faithfully and diligently served the state in every ramification and called on people of Zone A and B to allow those from Zone C a shot at the governorship.
He told the members that, based on the well known antecedents of Engr. Abounu, he is sure to deliver on his promises and will not fail the people of the state.
President, West Africa Students Union, Romans Pilla, who extolled Engr. Abounu’s sterling leadership qualities and support for Governor Ortom said he identifies with leadership returning to the path of those who are competent and qualified to lead.
He called on Engr. Abounu not to abandon the youths as others do, if he gets elected, adding that, forsaking the youths after using them to get to power has become the norm in Nigerian politics.
There were messages of support from all parts of the state with Comrade Damson Igba speaking for youths of zone A; Comrade Atom Daniel speaking for Zone B, and Comrade Agida Collins Versace for Zone C, all committing their support for Engr. Abounu.
There were also goodwill messages from the chairmen of Otukpo local government council, Chief George Alii, his Gwer West Counterpart, Hon. Mrs Grace Igbabon and that of Tarka, Hon. Mrs Juliana Suswam.
In separate speeches, all of them spoke of the ability, experience and capacity of Engr. Abounu to lead Benue State, and assured him of their support.
Chief George Alii further charged supporters of the deputy governor not to insult anyone, but to be civil in their campaigns.